C.O.C.A. Times

Issue: 2013-July - Vol 19 Num 2

it is the one we can
discuss with the
greatest degree of
accuracy and the
least amount of
interference. And
it is the DOMINO
that is the more
interesting of the
2 types, since it is
animated. It has
physical movement of illustrated, inanimate objects.
The figures painted onto the scenery backdrop of the
face of the DOMINO have moveable parts that function
in conjunction with the workings of the machine. It's
an impressive showing even today; especially for a slot
machine made in the 1920's.
And the DOMINO is certainly a slot machine, re-
gardless of any or all external evidence to the contrary.
The entire front of the device is actually a door, hinged
on the right side and locked on the left. It is suggested
on the instruction sheet that is posted on the inside that
this machine be mounted on a wall because it is very
top heavy. On most of these machines a small metal
coin slot is attached to the top right corner, below that
is another slot that is a coin return, but on this partic-
ular machine. it has the rare large circular coin entry
mounted on the right side of the cabinet with coin entry
at top. The circular coin entry has a round glass win-
dow so that slugs can be detected. It can be adjusted
to accept either 5-cents or 25-cents. This machine has
been set up to play on a quarter which makes it very
rare. The bar scene (with 3 dice faces showing) behind
the display takes up the bulk of the machine face, es-
pecially top and center. Below the scene is the reward
card panel. Just below that is the small metal payout
cup. To the right is the play handle or crank. Very com-
pact & has all of the necessary components. The action
is fast and operation of the DOMINO is accomplished
with the insertion of a quarter into the coin entry, then
pushing lever all the way up until the top quarter in the
window drops into the inside mech. Then one complete
clockwise tum of the crank-like handle. As the handle
Ill
II
■BIi
is turned, the painted figure on the right at the bar hold-
ing a dice tumbler moves his arm in a shaking motion
for a throw of the dice. Then as the reels spin the dotted
symbols, the figure seemingly empties the contents of
the dice cup onto the bar top, complete with sound ef-
fects . A stop of the reel symbol on any of the winning
combinations printed on the award card result in a sa-
lute from the bartender, who raises his glass in a toast,
as the payout coins drop into the center cup.
The animation is quite simple with the hinging of
two major pieces of the illustrated scene; the right
arm of the bartender is hinged at the shoulder, and the
throwing forearm of the gambler is hinged at the elbow.
These are the only two portions of the illustration to
move during cycling of the machine. The spinning reels
6
1111111111
■Ill
are interesting for reasons of their own. The reels have
no reel strips. They are made of cast aluminum and have
12 flattened drilled sides so that the dotted fronts appear
to be the faces of actual dice or Dominoes; from the
outside of the machine they don't even look like reels.
The similarity to Dominoes is less than obvious, and it
is quite unlikely that Dominoes would be in the cup a
gambler was tossing out onto the bar top anyway. So the
name may be DOMINO, but the game is really dice.
machine 1,728 possible stopping positions. Top payout
for this DOMINO machine is $5 in quarters, a fairly
typical 20: 1 drop, when each of the 3 reels, stops on a 1
spot. The award card shows 14 different payouts.
With all of the research and infonnation together, we
can recreate a fairly accurate picture of the DOMINO
dice machine and its heritage, even if there is still a lot
we don't know. But it certainly does not decrease in val-
ue or ability to attract and hold interest. The DOMINO
has nothing but time on its side; time and the informed
interest of modem day collectors who recognize a real
beauty when they see it.
When the machine is cycling the reels stop from right
to left, very quickly, just opposite of US slots. As each
reel comes to a stop an internal pay sensor determines
the payout. Not all the reels have to be stopped before
the payout process begins to take place. There are 3
tubes & 3 sets of double payout slides that produce all
pays. The tubes & slides are connected to the coin chute
at an angle so that when tubes are filled, coins will not
backup, but will fall into the coin box. The slides are in-
terlocked with one another in such a way that ifthere is
a payout determined on the 3rd reel (far right), the pay-
out will start immediately, then if there is a payout on
the 2nd and 1st reel it will follow. Each reel has 12 dot-
ted symbols, 12 possible stopping positions. All reels
have the same different spot symbols which gives the
II
1111
■RR
Any questions or comments or information you have
regarding this type of machine, please email me at
dappledman@yahoo.com.
7
111111111111
■II

Download Page 6: PDF File | Image

Download Page 7 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.